Just days before Diwali, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday imposed Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) after air quality dipped into the “poor” category.
CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP invokes Stage-I of GRAP in the entire NCR, with immediate effect.
For more details, visit: https://t.co/lgoAoZzJqn
— Commission for Air Quality Management (@CAQM_Official) October 14, 2025
The move comes as Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 211 on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). Forecasts suggest that air quality is likely to remain poor over the next few days as weather conditions turn unfavourable for pollutant dispersion.
In an official statement, the CAQM said, “The Sub-Committee on GRAP reviewed the air quality scenario in the region and decided to invoke all actions under Stage-I (Poor Air Quality) of the extant GRAP in the entire NCR, with immediate effect.”
The directive mandates all local authorities and implementing agencies to intensify pollution control measures, aiming to prevent the situation from slipping into the ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ categories, which are typically observed around Diwali and winter.
Key Restrictions Under GRAP Stage-I
Stage-I of the GRAP framework, designed for AQI levels between 201–300 requires a range of immediate interventions:
- Enhanced dust control through mechanical sweeping and regular sprinkling of water on roads.
- Strict checks on construction sites to ensure dust suppression and compliance with anti-pollution norms.
- Ban on open waste burning in residential and industrial areas.
- Close monitoring of industrial emissions, especially from units using unapproved fuels.
- Traffic management measures, including reduction of vehicular congestion and emission checks.
Authorities have been asked to maintain round-the-clock surveillance and ensure strict adherence to pollution control timelines under the comprehensive air management plan issued in December 2024, following Supreme Court directions.
The CAQM has said it will continue to closely monitor the situation and escalate to GRAP Stage-II or higher if pollution levels worsen. Stages II, III, and IV involve progressively stricter measures, including bans on diesel generators, construction halts, and restrictions on heavy vehicles.
